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Monday, February 13, 2012

Why is it so hard to sleep?

Why is it so hard to get kids to sleep? Like parents across the country, I laughed at the book Go the F--- To Sleep (read by Samuel L. Jackson & satisfyingly vulgar so be warned), but it was a bitter, ironic laugh. I have thought it many, many times.

I admit I have not done an exhaustive reading of all the sleep-help books out there. I've skimmed a few and retain some vague tips that I've probably confused. Websites read my mind and send me excellent advice that I usually forget to follow. We know about maintaining routine and returning them to their beds blah blah blah.

I watch them roll and contort their bodies into the most uncomfortable positions and they claim they want to sleep that way.

They beg for figurines or markers to use in bed and claim it will help them sleep.

They kick all the blankets off and then weep when they are cold.

They ask for snacks, endless snacks.

They never want to sleep. I always want to sleep. My mother claims when I was young, I would announce authoritatively that I was going to bed. Apparently that is not a trait any of my children have inherited.